Why do tires turn blue?

[WagzDad]

I don’t use any kind of tire treatment for appearance other than a scrub brush. When I let mud dry on my tires, they turn blue under the mud. It comes off with the usual scrub, just curious about why.

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[beaups]

You ran over a Smurf, obviously.

 

[Shots]

Rubber is naturally white, so the black we are so accustomed to seeing is "dyed" or more specifically a result of carbon black added during the manufacturing process to increase wear. I suspect you're seeing a chemical reaction between the carbon and minerals in the mud. An "oxidation" of sorts, I guess, which is why you can wash it off.

 

[Freebooter]

I like the first answer but the second answer makes more sense. I have never noticed that before.

 

[Frezski]

I like the first answer but the second answer makes more sense. I have never noticed that before.

I second what that guy said ^

 

[Shots]

LOL, I have to agree that the smurf is a better answer.

 

[WagzDad]

It’s not just the current tires. It’s been atv and utv Tire’s as well as vehicle at & mt. Must be something in the local soil.

after you mentioned that rubber gets colored, I remember a few years that there was motorcycle tires available in several colors. They also tried using different color rubber in the final layer of wear as a safety indicator...apparently that didn’t go anywhere.

 

[Lateapex]

It’s not just the current tires. It’s been atv and utv Tire’s as well as vehicle at & mt. Must be something in the local soil.

after you mentioned that rubber gets colored, I remember a few years that there was motorcycle tires available in several colors. They also tried using different color rubber in the final layer of wear as a safety indicator...apparently that didn’t go anywhere.

...and don’t forget the colored smoke tires for colorful burnouts!

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